Apparatuses and methods for segregating tissue samples for multiple diagnostic modalities

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for recovering solid tissue and dislodged cells (“D-cells”) from a biopsy are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a biopsy container apparatus for recovering solid tissue and D-cells from a biopsy includes a receiving container and a sieve container. The receiving container has a receiving chamber with an upper opening and a watertight bottom surface. The sieve container is configured to be located at least partially within the receiving chamber and removed from the receiving chamber through the upper opening. The sieve container has a bottom sieve surface including a plurality of apertures configured to pass the D-cells from the biopsy but not the solid tissue from the biopsy into the receiving chamber after the solid tissue and the D-cells from the biopsy are placed into the sieve container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A biopsy container apparatus for recovering solid tissue and dislodged cells (D-cells) from a biopsy, the biopsy container apparatus comprising:
 a receiving container having a receiving chamber with an upper opening and a watertight bottom surface; and   a sieve container configured to be located at least partially within the receiving chamber and removed from the receiving chamber through the upper opening, the sieve container having a bottom sieve surface including a plurality of apertures configured to pass the D-cells from the biopsy but not the solid tissue from the biopsy into the receiving chamber after the solid tissue and the D-cells from the biopsy are placed into the sieve container.   
     
     
         2 . The biopsy container apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the bottom sieve surface is a generally flat bottom sieve surface,   the watertight bottom surface is a generally flat watertight bottom surface, and   the bottom sieve surface is located adjacent to the watertight bottom surface when the sieve container is located within the receiving chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The biopsy container apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the sieve container includes a first part and a second part,   the second part is configured to be detached from the first part after the sieve container is removed from the receiving container, and   the second part includes the bottom sieve surface.   
     
     
         4 . The biopsy container apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein
 the second part is configured to be detached from the first part by rotating the second part with respect to the first part and then translating the second part away from the first part.   
     
     
         5 . The biopsy container apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein
 one of the first part and the second part includes a first detachment mechanism,   the other of the first part and the second part includes a second detachment mechanism,   the first detachment mechanism includes a cavity having a longitudinal portion and a circumferential portion, and   the second detachment mechanism includes a protrusion configured to move through the circumferential portion and the longitudinal portion when the second part is detached from the first part.   
     
     
         6 . The biopsy container apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein
 the second detachment mechanism includes a recessed inner surface, and   the protrusion extends radially outward from the recessed inner surface.   
     
     
         7 . The biopsy container apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein
 the first detachment mechanism includes at least two cavities having respective longitudinal portions and circumferential portions, and   the second detachment mechanism includes at least two protrusions each configured to translate through a respective longitudinal portion and a respective circumferential portion of one of the cavities.   
     
     
         8 . A sieve container for a biopsy container apparatus for recovering solid tissue and dislodged cells (D-cells) from a biopsy, the sieve container comprising:
 a first part including an opening configured to receive a core needle and one of a first detachment mechanism and a second detachment mechanism;   a second part including a sieve surface and the other of the first detachment mechanism and a second detachment mechanism,   the sieve surface including a plurality of apertures configured to pass the D-cells from the biopsy but not the solid tissue from the biopsy after the solid tissue and D-cells are ejected from the core needle inserted into the opening,   the first detachment mechanism including a cavity having a longitudinal portion and a circumferential portion, and   the second detachment mechanism including a protrusion configured to translate through the circumferential portion and the longitudinal portion to detach the second part from the first part.   
     
     
         9 . The sieve container of  claim 8 , wherein
 the second part is configured to be detached from the first part by rotating the second part with respect to the first part and then translating the second part away from the first part.   
     
     
         10 . The sieve container of  claim 8 , wherein
 the sieve surface is a bottom surface of the second part located opposite the other of the first detachment mechanism and the second detachment mechanism on the second part.   
     
     
         11 . The sieve container of  claim 8 , wherein
 the sieve surface is a generally flat bottom sieve surface.   
     
     
         12 . The sieve container of  claim 8 , wherein
 the first part includes a funnel portion that tapers outward in a direction away from the one of the first detachment mechanism and the second detachment mechanism on the first part.   
     
     
         13 . The sieve container of  claim 8 , wherein
 the first part includes the first detachment mechanism, and   the second part includes the second detachment mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The sieve container of  claim 8 , wherein
 the first part includes the second detachment mechanism, and   the second part includes the first detachment mechanism.   
     
     
         15 . A method of recovering solid tissue and dislodged cells (“D-cells”) from a biopsy using a biopsy container apparatus including at least a receiving container and a sieve container, the method comprising:
 depositing the solid tissue and the D-cells from the biopsy into the sieve container while the sieve container is located at least partially within the receiving container; 
 removing the sieve container from the receiving container; 
 separating the sieve container into a first part and a second part including the solid tissue by rotating the second part with respect to the first part and then translating the second part away from the first part; 
 placing the second part of the sieve container with the solid tissue into a sealed container for tissue processing; and 
 recovering the D-cells from the receiving container for diagnostic testing. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein
 separating the sieve container into the first part and the second part includes moving a protrusion through a cavity.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein
 separating the sieve container into the first part and the second part includes rotating the protrusion through a circumferential portion of the cavity and translating the protrusion through a longitudinal portion of the cavity.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein
 the first part includes the cavity, and   the second part includes the protrusion.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein
 the second part includes the cavity, and   the first part includes the protrusion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein
 depositing the solid tissue and the D-cells from the biopsy into the sieve container includes enabling the D-cells to flow through a bottom sieve surface of the sieve container and into a receiving chamber of the receiving container.